On December 17, 2021, the government of Canada announced that the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) became permanent.
The Pilot launched in 2017 has brought over 10,000 new permanent residents to Atlantic Canada. It has also helped communities thrive and prosper, and contributed to the region’s population growth.
The permanent Atlantic Immigration Program will officially open on January 1, 2022. It will attract skilled workers to address economic and demographic challenges, as well as the labour shortage in the region. Eligible candidates will be able to submit applications for permanent residence (PR) under the new program on March 6, 2022.
The permanent program consists of three features that made the pilot successful. These includes: a focus on employers, enhanced settlement support, and a collaborative approach across all Atlantic provinces.
The Atlantic provinces and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) worked closely together to design the permanent program based on the lessons learnt and recommendations derived from the pilot evaluation.
Among the changes that will ensure newcomers can settle successfully in the region are:
clarification of roles between partners
increasing employer support through training and
strengthening program requirements
Employers and provincial governments are working closely with the IRCC to ensure a smooth transition between the pilot and permanent programs.